Hey guys, I'm taking delivery of my new Z4 in 2 days (pix coming!) Question about break-in...I know that you're supposed to drive the car at varying speeds and rpm's during this period, but how frequently do you have to do this while driving?
I guess the idea is to have the rings burnish the cylinder walls by creating high pressure. Is this pressure created by accelerating in a higher gear at low rpm?
Any tips would be appreciated!

The guys from the dealership workshop and the local chapter of the bmw club advise thrashing the daylights out of them from day one.
Those who keep their cars for 10 plus years claim they are the better for it in the long run, use less oil and have more power.

(Note these are unsubstantiated claims made my others that I am merely passing on)

I think too many folks get caught up in the whole "break-in" thing, and get very OCD. Common sense applies here, keep it below 4,000 for the first few hundred miles, and don't spend a long time at a single engine speed, and don't apply full throttle. Basically drive it normally for a week or two, which allows for some fairly spirited driving, my personal break-in was done using this technique, and around 500 miles started driving it like I just stole it. These engines are works of art and pretty much require that you do many bad things to them before you break them. Keep in mind that it may be more critical to allow the brakes and tires to bed in before you start to push.

Just my 2 cents, but this is what I did on my 1998 318ti, 2007 1 Series and my 2009 Z4, and I am still happy with all of them, and they are all on the road.

i've owned a lot of new cars and motorcycles over the years. For me there's a few rules to respect, vary rpm's shift gently(mt) never drives over 2 hours long before i get 2000miles on the clock, never rev the engine to redline before the first oil change which you should do between 2 to3000 miles. Good luck its up to you.

Unfortunately, hardly any. I wasn't planning to drive it as they were having a very harsh winter and I didn't want to drive in the snow. I'm picking up the car tomorrow and plan on driving the heck out of it!

Some dude I met in a car forum told me the best thing is to put the car in reverse, floor it and dump the clutch. Do this 10 times every morning for the first 1000 days you own the car. He told me he's been doing this for years and his cars are the best anywhere.

Some dude I met on in a car forum told me the best thing is to put the car in reverse floor it and dump the clutch. Do this 10 times every morning for the first 1000 days you own the car. He told me he's been doing this for years and his cars are the best anywhere.

Yes, I know about the official breakin recs. And I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I'm going to pass on "some dude's" advice.

Some dude I met in a car forum told me the best thing is to put the car in reverse, floor it and dump the clutch. Do this 10 times every morning for the first 1000 days you own the car. He told me he's been doing this for years and his cars are the best anywhere.

AWESOMMMMME!!! I'm loving the M Sport styling and sport seats and I'm also very happy I have a manual transmission now. It is one smooth shifting car. Melbourne Red is a great color. Took off the RFT's at delivery and am running 18" Michelin Pilot Super Sports. I'm in the middle of making some modifications so as soon as I'm done, I'll post pix, probably in a week or so. Thanks for asking!

AWESOMMMMME!!! I'm loving the M Sport styling and sport seats and I'm also very happy I have a manual transmission now. It is one smooth shifting car. Melbourne Red is a great color. Took off the RFT's at delivery and am running 18" Michelin Pilot Super Sports. I'm in the middle of making some modifications so as soon as I'm done, I'll post pix, probably in a week or so. Thanks for asking!

Looks like I am stuck with run flats for awhile longer. I ended up with a road hazard issue with my right rear covered under warranty so I got a new left rear too (at my cost). Love the color of your car, that would be my choice after white. I didn't think I would actually use the sport seat feature (thigh support) but I use it all the time!

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2009 Z4 35i, alpine white with beige leather and all the goodies (new to me with 4,500 miles in October, 2011)

AWESOMMMMME!!! I'm loving the M Sport styling and sport seats and I'm also very happy I have a manual transmission now. It is one smooth shifting car. Melbourne Red is a great color. Took off the RFT's at delivery and am running 18" Michelin Pilot Super Sports. I'm in the middle of making some modifications so as soon as I'm done, I'll post pix, probably in a week or so. Thanks for asking!

Second that. I have a 35i with MT and Michelin Pilot Super Sports on 18" 294 wheels? In fact I just had them remounted today after the winter and couldn't resist joyriding all afternoon!

What kind of mods are you looking at?

RE your initial question, my break-in routine consisted of high-torque, low-RPM runs the first few days. Like climbing a hill in high gear. The high cylinder pressure helps seat the rings. Using engine compression breaking also helps.
Keep the RPMs reasonable for the first 600 miles (stay under 4,500 which isn't such a burden with all that low-end torque) then gradually allow higher RPMs after that.
Then change the oil at 1,500 miles. My BMW service advisor thought that was a good idea too.

The rest is just common sense, like allowing your engine and MT to warm up before doing any spirited driving.

Second that. i have a Z4 with MT and 18" Michelin Pilot Super Sports. In fact I just had them remounted today after the winter and couldn't resist joyriding alll afternoon!

What kind of mods are you looking at?

Nothing too crazy. Pedal covers, Alpine HID's, stubby antenna (all this weekend), then later: powder coated brake calipers (my wheels are so open I have to give the calipers there due), and replacing the wind deflector mesh with glass a la Z4Phuket. I went to the DMV to retrieve the custom plate they were storing for me since September and they lost it! Getting a new on next month.